The Addison Independent is proud to publish the Students of the Week from area High Schools each week. The students are chosen by teachers and administration from each school who would like to recognize their exceptional engagement in the high schools they attend.
MUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Middlebury Union High School is pleased to recognize Wilder Perera as its Student of the Week. Wilder lives in Hancock with his parents, Daniel Perera and Janet Jesso. His brother, Jaro, is a sophomore at MUHS.
Mountain hawks: an appropriate label for those like Wilder who must conquer the Middlebury Gap twice daily to attend school or work. Wilder has made good use of his commutes, for he has achieved High Honors or Honors throughout his high school career. Along the way, Wilder has taken both AP Calculus 1 and 2, and he is currently enrolled in AP Biology and Statistics. Wilder was also selected to attend the HOBY youth leadership conference in 10th grade.
Each afternoon finds Wilder active on one of our teams before his flight home. He is best known to us for his years of stellar play between the goal posts for Varsity Soccer. A former basketball player, Wilder is participating this winter in the fledgling MUHS Indoor Track program. Spring should find him once again playing Ultimate Frisbee.
Wilder works at a residential camp in the summer, and when there is actually snow available, he is a Middlebury Snow Bowl instructor. In his free time, Wilder enjoys mountain biking near home.
Wilder would like to attend Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, home of the Mountain Hawks. We believe he has the perfect credentials to migrate to Bethlehem and join their “kettle” come September.
Wilder, we hope they agree, and we wish you the best of luck!
 
VUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Vergennes Union High School is pleased to recognize Ryan Paquin as its Student of the Week. Ryan lives in Vergennes with his dad and stepmom, Adam and Tina Paquin.  He has a younger brother Jackson, and two older sisters, Megan and Kaelin.
Ryan is a good student and has made honor roll throughout his high school career.  He is also an active member on several of our sports teams.  Ryan plays football on the combined Vergennes and Mt. Abraham team.  He is also on the wrestling team.  He recently hit 100 wins for wrestling.  Ryan has proven himself a leader of both teams, and was captain on each.  Outside of school Ryan has held multiple jobs:  welding, counting bottles, landscaping, farm work.  Ryan enjoys hunting and fishing.  He also does maple sugaring with his dad.  Ryan has his own little sugarbush.
Ryan  gives this piece of advice to others: “Enjoy high school while you can because after you’re done here it’s all work and very little play. For me high school went by slow but I made the best out of everything that I did here. I also recommend that people come out and play more sports because you only have four years of  high school to do it.” Ed Cook, a physical education teacher, said, ” Ryan is a quiet student that works hard in his classes to excel.  He is constantly working with his teachers to improve his understanding of the material. Ryan is a hard-working student that has taken advantage of the myriad of resources at VUHS to become a better student and person.   His hard work translates onto the football field and wrestling mat where he has become a captain, a leader and an all-state athlete.  He was chosen for the North-South all state football game and has recently passed the 100 win mark as a wrestler.”
  
Ryan has put a lot of thought into what he wants to do after high school, and he is debating between going into the workforce, going to college or joining the Marines.  The faculty, staff and students of VUHS wish Ryan the very best in the future.
 
Vergennes Students of the Week receive a free sandwich and drink from 3 Squares Cafe. Middlebury Students of the Week receive a free pizza from Green Peppers. Students of the Week from all area high schools will receive a gift certificate from Vermont Book Shop.
With support from:
Barash Mediation
Business Telephone Systems
Champlain Valley Plumbing and Heating
Jackman Fuels
JW DE Ryan
Martin’s Hardware
United Way of Addison County
Vermont Army National Guard
Vermont Book Shop